Creating relationship instances

Perform the following steps to create a new instance for a relationship:

  1. Start Relationship Manager and make sure it is connected to a server. Follow the instructions in Starting Relationship Manager and Connecting Relationship Manager to a InterChange Server Express.
  2. Create the new relationship instance by doing one of the following: Relationship Manager displays the new relationship instance.
    Highlighted at the top of the hierarchal relationship tree, on the entry line with the relationship icon is the placeholder for the relationship instance ID, which displays three question marks (???). After you save the relationship instance or any of its participants, InterChange Server Express automatically generates the new relationship instance ID and Relationship Manager replaces the question marks with this instance ID.
  3. Expand the new relationship instance by clicking on the plus (+) sign next to the ??? placeholder icon.
    The relationship tree displays participant definitions, participant instances, and participant key and non-key attributes beneath the relationship instance in descending order.
  4. Do the following to create a new participant instance in the relationship instance:
    1. In the relationship tree, select the participant definition for which you want to create an instance.
    2. Do one of the following to add an instance for the participant:
      • Right-click a participant definition in the listing and click Add Participant.
      • Click Add Participant on the toolbar.
    3. Expand the new participant instance by clicking the plus (+) sign next to it.
    4. Select the new participant instance.
    5. Click the Value column for the participant instance, then type a value into the cell.
      Note:
      If the Value field for the attribute displays three question marks (???), the participant is managed by InterChange Server Express. You cannot enter values for these participants because InterChange Server Express automatically generates them when you save the relationship instance. The value is the same value as the relationship instance ID.
  5. Do any of the tasks in the following table:
    Tasks for participant data
    Task Action
    Save the participant instance. To save the new participant instance, right-click the participant instance and choose Save Participant from the context menu. Relationship Manager saves in the appropriate relationship table the data for this participant. The Modified column for the participant instances displays the date the participant was saved, which is the create date, in this case.
    Note:
    After the participant data has been saved, it cannot be changed. To change its data, the participant must be deleted and another created.
    Add more participant instances. Repeat repeat step 3 in the previous list.
    Note:
    If you are working with an identity relationship, you cannot create more than one participant instance for a participant definition.
    Delete a participant. If necessary, you can delete a saved participant instance by right-clicking the participant instance and selecting Delete Participant. Relationship Manager removes the participant instance from the relationship table. If you do not want to remove the participant instance from the database, use the Deactivate Participant option (see "Deactivating and activating participants"). A deactivated participant retains its instance ID and its values.
    Save the relationship instance. Save the relationship instance by performing one of the following tasks:
    • Click File > Save.
    • Right-click the relationship instance and click Save Relationship.
    InterChange Server Express generates the relationship instance ID and Relationship Manager replaces the ??? placeholder with this new ID. Relationship Manager updates the modified date on all saved participant instances to this date.
    Note:
    At least one participant instance and all key attribute data must be created before the relationship instance can be saved.
    Save all relationship instances. Click File > Save All. InterChange Server Express generates the relationship instance IDs for any relationship instances that do not have one. Relationship Manager replaces any ??? placeholders with the new IDs. Relationship Manager updates the modified date on all saved participant instances to this date.

See also:

Relationship Manager overview

Working with relationships in Relationship Manager

Working with relationship data in Relationship Manager


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